There’s a lot to like at Spring Gulch, starting with the venerable John Gorka. The fun continues with John Flynn and Chris Smither and gets even better with two lovelies, Liz Longley and Kirsten Maxwell. Kirsten kicks it out of the park with her otherworldly pure vocals. If you’re looking for some country gospel, it doesnt’t get any better than Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards..

As you might expect, there are a lot of impressive bluegrass musicians at Delfest. It always starts with Del and his offspring. What really jumps off the page (or screen, if you will) is the collaboration of Bela Fleck and Chris Thile. There isn’t any genre that these two can’t interpret (and haven’t already played). Additionally, we’re always happy to see Donna the Buffalo show up anywhere. They’ve been known to bend a few genres themselves.

At Kerrville, ground zero for the singer/songwriter set, the roster includes our favorite Canadian blues singer, Suzie Vinnick, so it looks like she’s getting due props for her songwriting chops as well. Jimmy LaFave is on his farewell tour after being recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. His name appears in a bunch of festivals featured this month. “I’m on my way off the planet,” he states, but “The show must go on.” We hope as many as possible will go to see him before we lose his irreplaceable voice.

We’re thrilled to welcome The Clearwater Festival back after a one-year hiatus, and thrilled that promoter Steve Lurie is back at the helm to book the best acts in roots music. It’s hard to believe we’ll be given the opportunity to see two of the greatest guitarists, Tommy Emmanuel and Richard Thompson on the same bill. Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive always blows our doors off. Los Lobos always gets our blood boiling. Add in Arlo Guthrie, Josh Ritter, Cry, Cry, Cry and Alejandro Escovedo and what you’ve got is an embarrassment of riches. Now all we have to do is turn up at the right stages at the right times.

Our favorite lady Dobro player, Abbie Gardner, is appearing at GottaGetGon this year. If she lends her skills to other acts as well, it’s going to be a barn burner! Bob Amos & Catamount Crossing combine virtuoso instrumentals and vocals.

At Strawberry Park‘s Bluegrass festival, Rhonda Vincent provides some bluegrass star power and is supported by a terrific roster. A quick check on YouTube for Jr Sisk and the Ramblers and Blackstone Valley provided all the testimony we needed to guarantee a good time.

No YouTube check was needed for Steve Riley and the rest of his cohorts for the Cajun-Zydeco festival. However, we couldn’t resist a look at the new-to-us Slippery Sneakers and we were rewarded with a video of a very tight, high-energy set and some spirited dancing.

Roots on the River has two of our favorite roots acts. The first, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem is very familiar. Rani was our July 2016 cover feature. We remember her when she fronted Salamander Crossing in the ’90s. The second is a new favorite, Birds of Chicago. We’re over the moon for Allison Russell’s vocals

New Bedford Folk Festival seems to be hosting an Acoustic Live Feature Alumni Party. We profiled Aoife O’Donovan when she was with Crooked Still. Other artists appearing here who’ve been Acoustic Live cover features include Catie Curtis, David Francey, Ellis Paul, Seth Glier, Susan Werner, The Kennedys and Vance Gilbert. I almost overlooked the folks in Session Americana. We saw them live, but without Laura Cortese. Those attending this New Bedford event would be wise not to miss this act.

As to be expected, the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival. hosts singer/songwriters who know how to carry a message. It’s practically a Who’s Who of Songwriters R Us. Sam Baker might be Exhibit A. We also like Rod Picott and Ellis Paul. David Amram was a contemporary of Woody’s (we might also want to mention Jack Kerouac). Malcolm Holcolmbe gets to the nitty gritty of human existence as well as Woody ever did.

It’s difficult not to overenthuse about the talent at the Caramoor American Roots Music Festival each year. A nighttime headline co-bill of roots music stars Rhiannon Giddens and Sarah Jarosz is the icing on the cake for a daytime program that includes the Mike + Ruthy Band. I was unfamiliar with River Whyless before writing this. After watching and listening to their ethereal harmonies plus their inventive playing and writing, this one-day festival jumped from a “maybe” to a “definitely!”

If there’s any question that the Great Blue Heron Music Festival is the soul of diversity, look no further than the Big Mean Sound Machine to dispel that idea. With a brass section, electronic keyboards and hypnotic rhythms, the band brings some georgous Afro-funk to the table. Fela Kuti would appreciate the way these guys carry on his legacy. Acts such as Jim Lauderdale, Tiger Maple String Band and The Sim Redmond Band swing the vibe back in the direction of U.S. roots.

At Winnipeg, Brandi Carlile and Bruce Cockburn provide the star power and Begonia brings the monster vocals. For this who need their guitar fix, there’s Winnipeg artist Joey Landreth (of The Bros. Landreth), apparently no relation to Sonny, although his slide guitar technique and last name might suggest otherwise. If anyone in attendance hasn’t heard Northern Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance, he’s definitely going to make some new friends. Whether he wraps his vocal chords around an original song or a cover, he’s going to leave an indelible imprint on the listener.

In the freezer chest of February, I move doggedly up Sixth Avenue, layered against the cold. A cacaphony of car horns, braying their irritation at a hapless lane-changer bursts into the brick-like air. I pull out my earplugs and jam them in underneath the earmuffs — a buffer, a sonic respite. A yearning for country summer festivals is not confined to a hunger for warmth. The crush of Manhattan, where I live and work as an artist and publisher, thunders with jackhammers, sirens, buses and garbage trucks. City sidewalks require a careful weaving through cellphone users nattering on about their concerns too immediate to delay for an indoor location. I long for the company of trees whose only speech is the sigh of wind through leaves. I long to trade the thunder of the urban landscape for the ring of picks on strings. I know that Spring and Summer will arrive on schedule, but my patience wears thin. Nothing to do but wait, and wait some more. Now, coming down the home stretch, the hardest part is over. Let the soft green begin.

We’re familiar with a number of acts at Grey Fox, having gone to Grey Fox when it was still at the Rothvoss Farm in Ancramdale. We’ve seen, among others, the host band Dry Branch Fire Squad and, of course, The Del McCoury Band. Of the bands we’ve just discovered, we especially like Jordan Tice & Horse County.

Warren Haynes’ Mountain Jam never fails to present top acts and this year is no different Along with old favorites, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Gary Clark, Jr. and St. Paul And The Broken Bones, I see the goddess of folk/rock, Amy Helms. I had heard of Simi Stone some time ago and finally looked at some videos. This is a singer/songwriter with enormous expressiveness and great heart. Stir in some Dan Bern and it’s all good.

We love the way Tim O’Brien fits seamlessly into his various projects. He’s appearing at Telluride Bluegrass Festival with his band and another configuration, Hot Rize. I don’t see Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers listed, so I guess he couldn’t get everyone together for that crew. Bela Fleck and Chris Thile are here, so It looks like they’ll be hitting a bunch of festivals this season. Lucky attendees! Jeremy Kittle is one of the best biddlers we’ve ever heard, whether he’s tackling bluegrass, folk, Celtic or jazz

Old Songs Festival presents a more traditional vibe than most of what we list here. A quick listen to Atlantic Crossing revealed a band with a charming old-timey style with lots of infectious dance tracks. For social consciousness-raising and uplift, there’s a collaboration between Scott Ainslie and Reggie Harris, plus Joe Jenks and Si Khan. Pat Donohue, a virtuoso fingerstyle guitarist and an excellent singer, writes and sings humorous parodies as well. He has performed on A Prairie Home Companion and is a national fingerpicking guitar champion.

We see some familiar faces at Mariposa this year. Irish Mythen knocked us out at NERFA last year and the year before. Blues goddess Suzie Vinnick graced our cover in April, 2013, while Madison Violet did the same in March, 2011. Scenic Route to Alaska is a fun indie rock band that plays catchy pop songs.

It’s interesting to see that some old favorites like Jesse Colin Young, Dave Mason and Poco are performing at Great South Bay. Among the acts new to us, Spafford really stood out. A four piece funk rock band, their melodic guitar riffs on extended jams reminded us of Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East.

We see that Lake Street Dive is dropping by for The Green River Festival, so we know this new-to-us event has been carefully planned. The beloved Darlingside looks to be conquering the world, one festival at a time. Harmony-wise, we believe River Whyless is going to be taking similar steps. Rachael Price (Lake Street Dive) returns to her jazz roots, performing the American songbook in a duo with the single-named gentleman,Vilray.

The crowd at Floydfest should ripple in revelry when Michael Franti & Spearhead play their Caribbean-laced pop. If they don’t do the same for St. Paul and the Broken Bones, it’ll be because they’re too busy watching lead singer Paul Janeway’s onstage contortions. A quick check of Baskery got the pulse racing. Three attractive women playing roots rock? Not especially innovative, but … when they mix in a punk edge and they’re from Sweden and they’re really good — time to re-think this. They employ killer harmonies, the drummer doubles on banjo … well, maybe it’s time to make a trip to Virginia. Whew!

We think the talent at the Ossipee Valley Music Festival, is worth a trip to Maine. Nellie McKay, The Stray Birds, Hot Club of Cowtown, Kaia Kater … Fiddler Brittany Haas collaborates with many other artists. She’ll pair off with the previously lauded Jordan Tice on some traditional fare. We’d love to see what Joe Walsh and Friends will bring to this festival. Formerly with The James Gang and The Eagles, Joe was included in the televised Beatles “50 Years” Tribute and contributed some hellacious guitar licks.

Just before publication, we discovered a host of new-to-us acts at The Lowell Folk Festival. Each description has a video attached Give them a look.

Two actresses who sing together really well, Megan Mullally and Stephanie Hunt have formed a duo they call Nancy & Beth.They’ll perform at Newport Folk Festival this year in support of their recently released titular album. Their act is a combination of serious, beautifully sung harmonies and raunchy rap. Mullally’s husband Nick Offerman joins them We’re glad to see John Prine is still alive and well and “in the house” after his recent cancer scare. Margaret Glaspy has become another favorite. Her husky vocals and strong writing are a sonic banquet.

There are new generations of greatness at Huntington Folk Festival. Woody’s grandaughter, Sarah Lee Guthrie has always been a treat, and The Mammals started out with a Pete Seeger grandson, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger as its founder. Former member Ruthie Ungar, daughter of folk stalwarts Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, is still touring with her husband Mike Merenda, occasionally reuniting with The Mammals.

The old meets the new at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. Eric Anderson harkens back to the folk explosion of ‘60s Greenwich Village while Kipyn Martin and Kirsten Maxwell represent the best of the new breed of folk singer/songwriters. Jimmy LaFave continues his farewell tour. We’ll say a prayer that he’s still well enough to continue by this time.

Acoustic Live will host its unplugged showcases at our booth on the midway. Our schedule so far …

The Peach Music Festival boasts some of the best names in roots rock. Fans of Gov’t Mule are touting leader Warren Haynes for the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of ‘Fame. Steve Kimock is one of the best acts on the music scene today. His band combines funk and jazz in a smooth-as-silk approach. Widespread Panic can whip a crowd into a frenzy as well as anyone. It’s going to be a great festival.

We like the sound of TajMo: The Taj Mahal & Keb’Mo’ Band at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. These blues masters are touring in support of their just-released album, TajMo. Together, they’re like a smoothly blended whiskey.One of the top new faces in electric blues, Samantha Fish, is receiving ever greater attention. She’s a great singer and plays blistering guitar. We’ve seen the venerable, but still young Susan Werner here before and it’s great to see her coming back. Nice also to welcome rising star Heather Maloney, a silky singer.

The Long Island Bluegrass Festival boasts terrific acts each year and this year is no exception. Junior Sisk’s group can sound like it’s barreling down a mountain road, making all the hairpin turns. Molly Tuttle has a voice to die for — a delicate, soaring instrument, taking the listener’s heart aloft. Not content with being a superlative singer, she can flat pick a blazing fast fiddle tune with anyone.

We plan on hitting the Rhythm & Roots Festival early this year. The closer our camp spot is to the mainstage, better shot we’ll have of a seat near the stage and a clearer view of Roseanne Cash. We’re pretty sure this is her first trip to Rhythm & Roots. Natalie MacMaster returns to New England yet again to beguile her many fans with her staggering array of fiddle licks, her dancing and, not least, her salty repartee. We love the music, we love the food and we can’t stay away!

The lineups for the Connecticut Folk Festival and Fiddle and Folk Festival are still pending. We’ll post those at acousticlive.com as soon as we get them.

The wait is almost over. We hope we’ll meet you in the verdant spaces of a festival this summer.